Moose vs. Helicopter

*Katie* · 03-07-2007, 08:47 PM

Guess who won...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A helicopter is not necessarily a match for an angry moose.

Instead of slowing down after being shot with a tranquilizer dart, a moose charged a hovering helicopter used by a wildlife biologist, damaging the aircraft's tail rotor and forcing it to the ground.

Neither the pilot nor the biologist was injured, but the moose was maimed by the spinning rotor and had to be euthanized, wildlife officials said.

"It just had to be one of those quirky circumstance. Even dealing with bears and goats and moose and wolves, this is pretty unusual and truly a very unique situation," said Doug Larsen, regional supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Conservation.

Biologist Kevin White was aboard the chartered helicopter on Saturday for a study of moose near Gustavus, a community of 459 people about 50 miles northwest of Juneau in southeast Alaska. Moose outnumber humans there 2-to-1, White has written in an essay for the Department of Fish and Game Web site.

He shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart, Larsen said, and the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to keep the animal from slipping into a tight space or collapsing in water and drowning.

"The moose would start to move, and then the helicopter would back off and try to keep the moose out in the open," Larsen said.

But instead of moving toward open space, the moose charged the helicopter.

"As the animal got closer and closer to going down, an animal sort of loses its thinking -- its ability to rationalize what's in its best interest," Larsen said.

The Terror of Death · 03-22-2007, 09:33 PM

The Moose FTW!

May it rest in peace.

MadPirateBunny · 03-22-2007, 09:54 PM

a moment of silence for the moose please.

*Kunoichi_Haruko* · 03-22-2007, 09:59 PM

::bows head in silence::

03-07-2007, 08:47 PM	#1
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	Moose vs. Helicopter Guess who won... ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A helicopter is not necessarily a match for an angry moose. Instead of slowing down after being shot with a tranquilizer dart, a moose charged a hovering helicopter used by a wildlife biologist, damaging the aircraft's tail rotor and forcing it to the ground. Neither the pilot nor the biologist was injured, but the moose was maimed by the spinning rotor and had to be euthanized, wildlife officials said. "It just had to be one of those quirky circumstance. Even dealing with bears and goats and moose and wolves, this is pretty unusual and truly a very unique situation," said Doug Larsen, regional supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Conservation. Biologist Kevin White was aboard the chartered helicopter on Saturday for a study of moose near Gustavus, a community of 459 people about 50 miles northwest of Juneau in southeast Alaska. Moose outnumber humans there 2-to-1, White has written in an essay for the Department of Fish and Game Web site. He shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart, Larsen said, and the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to keep the animal from slipping into a tight space or collapsing in water and drowning. "The moose would start to move, and then the helicopter would back off and try to keep the moose out in the open," Larsen said. But instead of moving toward open space, the moose charged the helicopter. "As the animal got closer and closer to going down, an animal sort of loses its thinking -- its ability to rationalize what's in its best interest," Larsen said. __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

03-22-2007, 09:54 PM	#3
MadPirateBunny Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: in the basement Posts: 1,067	a moment of silence for the moose please. __________________ Note to self: Pillage first. THEN Burn.

03-22-2007, 09:59 PM	#4
Kunoichi_Haruko A shell of a good hit! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond, Va. Posts: 1,685	::bows head in silence:: __________________

03-22-2007, 09:33 PM	#2
The Terror of Death Stone Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 736	The Moose FTW! May it rest in peace.